June, 25 2012, 11:35am EDT
With Another Bad Supreme Court Decision on Campaign Finance, It Becomes We the People's Responsibility to Fix the System
U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Montana Campaign Finance Case Reaffirms Court’s Citizens United Ruling
WASHINGTON
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court summarily struck down Montana's law protecting its elections from the influence of corporate cash. In doing so, the court reaffirmed its disastrous decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, and it did so in the face of overwhelming evidence that corrupting money is pouring into the system at an unprecedented rate, Public Citizen said.
"The Supreme Court continues to deny reality when it comes to assessing the impact of independent spending on elections," said Public Citizen President Robert Weissman. "The court is not going to overturn Citizens United, at least in the near term. It thus falls on the people to overturn the court, through a constitutional amendment."
Added Lisa Gilbert, acting director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch division, "Today, as the court makes one more bad call, we pledge to push back. Citizens demand and deserve disclosure, limits on corrupting money and a system in which the influence of special and corporate interests does not reign supreme."
"The court leaves us no choice but to continue to fight for stronger campaign finance laws to prevent corruption," said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen. "We will do this at the congressional level, at administrative agencies and in the states, as well as work to overturn Citizens United by amending the U.S. Constitution."
For more information, visit www.DemocracyIsForPeople.org.
Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. We defend democracy, resist corporate power and work to ensure that government works for the people - not for big corporations. Founded in 1971, we now have 500,000 members and supporters throughout the country.
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